Split band brassiere



Sept. 28, 1965 R. c. COLE 3,208,453

SPLIT BAND BRASS IERE Filed Aug. 11, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet l FIG.|.

INVENTOR Raymond 0. Cole ATTORNEY Sept. 28, 1965 R. c. COLE SPLIT BAND BRASS IERE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 11, 1961 INVENTOR Raymond C. Cole ATTORNEY Sept. 28, 1965 R. c. COLE SPLIT BAND BRASSIERE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 11, 1961 INVENTOR ATTORNEY United States Patent Office 3,208,453 SPLIT BAND BRASSIERE Raymond (J. Cole, Hiilsdale, N..l., assignor to International Latex Corporation, Dover, DeL, a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 11, I961, Ser. No. 134,541 8 Claims. (Cl. 128-428) This invention is brassieres which provide a floating action that gives constant molding and supporting of the breasts notwithstanding variations of posture or position.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application for Brassieres, S. N. 814,256 filed May 19, 1959, and now abandoned.

The ordinary unitary brassiere is a compromise. It attempts to be firmly positioned on the rib-cage, sides, and back, and at the same time to support and mold the breasts. This can be nicely done with a unitary brassiere as long as the relation between those parts of the body is static and does not change. However, when a woman moves to various positions, such as stretching one or both arms up, twisting the torso, leaning forward or back while either standing or sitting, in all these cases the relations between the breasts and the ribcage, sides, and back is dynamic and changes.

The ordinary unitary brassiere has a body-encircling band with breast cups therein As the shoulders, for example, are twisted about, the breasts tend to move to the side relative to the skin of a band immediately below the breasts, and also to have some relative vertical motion which may not be the same for both breasts. If the breast cups are provided unitarily in a girth band, either the band will move with the breasts and pull and rub across the skin of the rib-cage, or the girth band will remain fixed relative to the skin, and the breast cups will pull and distort the breasts.

Some partial recognition of this problem has appeared in the prior art, but without a clear realization of the problem and a full solution to it.

This invention is a brassiere which has dorsal band means extending around the back of the wearer, a lower frontal anchoring band connected to the dorsal band means for maintaining the body of the brassiere in a fixed position upon the body of the wearer and a separate upper breast-support panel having breast-cups therein. The lower edge of the breast-support panel freely overlaps the upper portion of the frontal anchoring band. The breast-support panel has terminal wing portions which extend rearwardly beyond the outer edges of the breast cups. These wing portions freely overlap the lower frontal anchoring band, and are connected to the dorsal band in the region directly below the armpits. As a result of the above construction, the breast-support panel can move with a high degree of freedom independently of the frontal anchoring band.

Since the breast-support panel is attached to the dorsal band under each armpit, the two widely-spaced areas of attachment act as anchoring points between which the complete support panel, including both breast cups in their entireties, is able to move in a swing-like manner. The swing-like action of the panel allows it to accommodate to forces exerted through the shoulder straps without caussing the brassiere as a whole to ride up and also eliminates any cutting into the shoulders by the shoulder straps. Significant also is the fact that the substantial length, in a girthwise direction, of each wing portion allows free upward displacement of the breasts without placing an uncomfortable and distorting tension on them. It can be shown geometrically that if the girthwise length of the wing portion is greater than the length or vertical distance 3,208,453 Patented Sept. 28, 1965 through which the breasts move, and preferably twice as great or more, freedom of the breasts is provided for with very reduced girthwise tension on them.

The brassiere may be made of materials commonly used in the art, both elastic and inelastic. When the breastsupport panel and its wing portions are made entirely of inelastic material such as cotton cloth, the independent movement of the support panel derives primarily from the fact that its wing portions are anchored under the armpits where the motion of the support panel is the least. An increase in the independent movement of the support panel is obtained when the cloth of the wing portions is cut on the bias. Greater movement is obtained, however, when elastic material is provided in that circumference of the brassiere which includes the support panel. This elastic material may be provided in the dorsal band or in the support panel or both, but it is presently preferred to make the wing portions of the support panel wholly of elastic material whereby the greatest freedom of movement is obtained. Preferably also an elastic tape joins the middle of the support panel to the middle of the anchoring or girth band, giving a yielding linkage between the two members so as at once to allow free action yet place some limiting restraint upon it.

Brassieres constructed in accordance withthe present invention give constant and very nearly uniform molding and supporting of the breasts during various motions of the wearer, with little or no distortion. They allow the breast cups to move in substantial accord with the natural ambit of the breasts, while leaving the girth band snug and substantially immobile upon the band of skin which it covers.

These and other desirable effects are achieved by brassieres of the type shown in the drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention, it being understood that such embodiments are shown by way of illustration and not by way of limitation, in which drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of a long-line type of brassiere showing the panel for supporting the breasts overlapping the body anchoring band;

FIGURE 2 is an interior view of a portion of the brassiere of FIGURE 1 showing the relationship of the anchoring band and the breast-support panel, the wing portions of which freely overlap the anchoring band.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 33 of FIGURE 1 showing the relative positions of the wing portions of the support panel, the anchoring band and the dorsal band of the brassiere;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 1 showing the connective link between the breast-support panel and the anchoring band;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 2 showing the overlap of the breastsupport panel and the anchoring band;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a fragmentary type showing a brassiere embodying the features of this invention and illustrating its position on the body;

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of a bandeau type of brassiere of similar construction.

Please refer now to FIGURES 1 through 7 of the drawings. There numeral 20 indicates generally a long-line type of brassiere construction which illustrates concepts of this invention. Two back sections 21 and 22 are joined together by suitable fasteners 23 to constitute a dorsal band. The front edges of those back sections are connected together by an anchoring band 24 and a floating breast-support panel 25.

The anchoring band 24 may be formed at least in part of elastic material, stretchable girthwise in the direction of the arrow A. It fits snugly against the skin of the wearer, along the rib cage in the region under the breasts, and

aaoeaes has end parts which connect to the front ends of the back sections in the region below the armpits.

On the outside of the anchoring band a breast-support panel is provided. This panel is located generally higher than the anchoring band, with its lower portion freely overlapping the upper portion of the anchoring band.

The outer surface of the anchoring band and the overlapping inner surface of the panel are formed with lowfriction characteristics, so they may freely slide upon each other.

The breast-support panel comprises breast cups 26, 27, and (in the preferred embodiment) elastic snugging tapes 28, 29 meeting at a slight upward angle and there joined together as at 30. The breast-support panel is joined to the back sections 21, 22 by wing portions 31, 32. These wing portions are joined at their front ends to the panel 25 by stitching along generally vertical lines 33, 34, which are the outer periphery of the breast cups and are also continuous as the ends of the snugging tapes 28, 29. The wing portions 31, 32 may be bias cut.

The wing portions 31, 32 are fastened at their rear ends to the front edges of the back sections, as by stitching 35, 36, along generally vertical lines which lie under the armpits (see FIGURE 6). These lines are continuous with the lines of attachment of the frontal anchoring band to the back sections, the wing portions lapping down over the anchoring band at these lines of attachment. Suitable shoulder straps 37, 38 may be provided, connected at the rear to the back sections 21, 22 and at the front to the top edges of the breast cups 26, 27 to help support the same.

It will be observed that the anchoring band performs the function of securing the garment'in place on the wearers body, while the breast support panel performs the function of shaping and supporting the breasts, and that this function of shaping and supporting the breasts is to a considerable degree independent of the anchoring bands function of securing the garment in place. It has been found that the needs for accommodation as the body stretches, twists, and bends are nicely met by the separateness of the panel and anchoring band across virtually the entire front of the garment. A central link 39, such as a piece of tape, elastic strip, or other type of linkage, preferably resilient may be desirably attached to the panel and band where they are in overlapping relation, being attached to the outer surface of the band and the inner surface of the panel a short distance thereabove. It allows an arc of displacement with no link resistance, and a progressively greater are of displacement with progressively increasing resilient restraint. This central link tends to give a partially independent accommodation action to each of the breast cups, while at the same time tending to preserve a natural relation between the position of both breasts and the torso. Also when the brassiere construction has a link 39 between the breast-support panel and the anchoring band, there is provided a controlled fioating action which places on the inner periphery of the breast during its displacement at constant tensioning when the panel is moved away from its normal position. This action by the link provides for maintaining the proper inner curvature and separation of the breasts during vertical and horizontal displacement. In addition, when an elastic link is provided, return of the panel from horizontal and vertical positions is controlled.

An alternate form of the invention is shown in FIG- URE 7. Numeral designates a bandeau type of brassiere having a breast-support panel 51 with a pair of breast receiving cups 52 therein. Attached to sides 53 of the breast-support panel, by suitable stitching 54, are elastic wing portions 55 and 56. The elastic wing portions are attached to back sections 57 and 58, respectively, by the seams 59 which lie in the region under each armpit. The rearward vertical edge of back section 57 is provided with a vertical row of spaced hooks 60 adapted to engage spaced rows of mating eyes 61 positioned in the vertical edge of back section 58.

Positioned under the breast and the lower marignal edge of the breast-support panel 51 is a narrow anchoring band 63 extending in a girthwise direction. Preferably, the inner face of the anchoring band has a relatively high frictional surface to assure retention of the brassiere in a fixed position during various displacements of the breastsupport panel. The high frictional surface may be formed from woven elastic material in which rubber-like threads protrude from the surface of the body side of the elastic material so as to form spaced rows of frictional protuberances which grip the body. Other forms of frictional material can'be used, such as sprayed rubber coating on an elastic fabric, or non-elastic material provided with elastic inserts for anchoring the band to the body of the wearer. Also, the body anchoring band can be formed from a rubber-like material which will produce, when in contact with the body, a frictional surface. A frictionreducing coating can if desired be applied to the front surface that the panel slides against.

Although the present invention has been described with particularity with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art, after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and the appended claims should therefore be interpreted to cover such changes and modifications.

I claim:

1. A brassiere comprising a front section connected at each end to the front ends of two back sections, the front section comprising a lower frontal anchoring band having end parts and a separate, independently movable upper breast-support panel having cups therein and terminal wing portions, the lower edge of the breast-support panel and the upper portion of the frontal anchoring band freely overlapping each other, the end parts of the said band and the terminal wing portions of the said panel extending rearwardly beyond the outer edges of the breastcups connecting to the front ends of the back sections in the region below the armpits.

2. A brassiere as in claim 1 wherein the wing portions are inelastic material.

3. A brassiere as in claim 1 wherein elastic material is provided in the circumference of the brassiere which includes the upper breast-support panel.

4-. A brassiere as in claim 1 wherein the wing portions are elastic for the full height of the breast-support panel.

5. A brassiere as in claim 1 wherein the connections of the wing portions of the upper breast-support panel and the back sections and the lower frontal anchoring band and the back sections are along a common line.

6. A brassiere as in claim 1 wherein the anchoring band is elastically linked to the upper breast-support panel at a point intermediate the breast cups.

7. A brassiere as in claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the inner surface of the anchoring band has a relatively high frictional surface for gripping the body of the wearer.

8. A brassiere as in claim 7 wherein the high frictional surface comprises a plurality of exposed bare rubber protuberances.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,160,078 5/39 Mayer 128-444 2,949,915 8/60 Malmstead 128-494 2,988,087 6/61 Krieger 128-505 ADELE M. EAGER, Primary Examiner.

LOUIS R. PRINCE, Examiner. 

1. A BRASSIERE COMPRISING A FRONT SECTION CONNECTED AT EACH END TO THE FRONT ENDS OF TWO BACK SECTIONS, THE FRONT SECTION COMPRISING A LOWER FRONTAL ANCHORING BAND HAVING END PARTS AND A SEPARATE, INDEPENDENTLY MOVABLE UPPER BREAST-SUPPORT PANEL HAVING CUPS THEREIN AND TERMINAL WING PORTIONS, THE LOWER EDGE OF THE BREAST-SUPPORT PANEL AND THE UPPER PORTION OF THE FRONTAL ANCHORING BAND FREELY OVERLAPPING EACH OTHER, THE END PARTS OF THE SAID BAND AND THE TERMINAL WING PORTIONS OF THE SAID PANEL EXTENDING REARWARDLY BEYOND THE OUTER EDGES OF THE BREASTCUPS CONNECTING TO THE FRONT ENDS OF THE BACK SECTIONS IN THE REGION BELOW THE ARMPITS. 